EA MVEIRB Public Hearing Whatì, NWT Bradley Summerfield, EPOD Jean-Francois Dufour, CWS November 15-17, 2017

Transcription

1 Environment and Climate Change Canada s Presentation to the Mackenzie Valley Environmental Impact Review Board Respecting the Tłįchǫ All-Season Road (TASR) Project EA MVEIRB Public Hearing Whatì, NWT Bradley Summerfield, EPOD Jean-Francois Dufour, CWS November 15-17, 2017

2 Presentation Overview Mandate Relevant Acts and Legislation Issues and Recommendations Terrestrial Environment Avian Species at Risk and Migratory Birds Impact Assessment Quarries and Borrow Sources Updated Draft Wildlife Management and Monitoring Plan (WMMP) Boreal Caribou Assessment, Mitigation and Monitoring Page 2 November-3-17

3 Environment and Climate Change Canada s Mandate Preserve and enhance the quality of the natural environment Conserve Canada s renewable resources Conserve and protect Canada s water resources Forecast daily weather conditions and warnings Enforce rules relating to boundary waters Coordinate environmental policies and programs Page 3 3 novembre 2017

4 How Environment and Climate Change Canada Fulfills its Mandate Relevant Legislation: Canadian Environmental Protection Act, 1999 Fisheries Act - Pollution Prevention Provisions Migratory Birds Convention Act, 1994 Species at Risk Act Page 4 3 novembre 2017

5 Issue 4.2.1: Avian Species at Risk Impact Assessment Suitable habitat indices provided in the Adequacy Statement Response do not provide sufficient confidence. Analysis of existing datasets from ECCC and the NICO Project was suggested to inform and refine the impact assessment. A technical memorandum on September 8, 2017 detailed why the Proponent would not be using surrogate datasets to reassess Project impacts. Page 5 3 novembre 2017

6 Issue 4.2.1: Recommendation In the absence of analysis of surrogate data, complete baseline monitoring of avian species at risk prior to Project construction to inform and add sufficient confidence to the avian species at risk impact assessment. Page 6 3 novembre 2017

7 Issue 4.2.2: Avian Species at Risk Quarries and Borrow Sources Disturbance at quarries and borrow sources presents risk of potential nest abandonment and destruction of nests/eggs. Specific details on mitigation measures and monitoring are lacking and the Proponent stated these would be finalized during permitting. Page 7 3 novembre 2017

8 Issue 4.2.2: Recommendations During the breeding season: Perform monitoring at quarry and borrow sources immediately prior to commencing disruptive activities. Contour piles to have a slope of less than 70 degrees. Flatten vertical faces in active areas to prevent avian species at risk from digging borrows in them overnight or on the weekends. Mark off a protective buffer zone around the colony and notifying employees. If colonization occurs in an active area all disruptive work should stop and not resume until birds have left. During planning consider creating suitable habitat in inactive areas away from activities. If a quarry or borrow source needs to be excavated after it has been colonized and birds have left, compensate by providing an alternative site that can support nesting in the following year. Page 8 3 novembre 2017

9 Issue 4.2.3: Avian Species at Risk and Migratory Birds Mitigation and Monitoring in the Updated Draft WMMP ECCC supportive of measures proposed so far. Details: Pre-clearing surveys (e.g. expected frequency, types of circumstances and specific methods). Effectiveness of no-work zones or buffers. Timing of measures for managing nesting on infrastructure. Page 9 3 novembre 2017

10 Issue 4.2.3: Recommendations Use of non-intrusive search methods to conduct an area search for evidence of nesting, prior to the commencement of clearing. Results should be reported in the annual wildlife monitoring report. Halt all disruptive activities in an area if nests containing eggs or young are discovered until the young have naturally and permanently left the nest. Establish buffer zones appropriate for circumstances and adjust after assessing their effectiveness. Include ECCC in the reporting of nesting, incidents and/or mortality and ECCC be consulted for additional mitigation measures and advice. Page 10 3 novembre 2017

11 Issue 4.2.4: Boreal Caribou Assessment, Mitigation and Monitoring Concerns with undisturbed habitat in the NT1 range approaching thresholds established in the recovery strategy for Boreal Caribou. The contribution of the Project to the overall habitat disturbance within NT1 would not lead to exceeding the recovery strategy threshold. ECCC supportive of collaring program in the North Slave Region to monitor potential effects of the Project. ECCC supportive of proposed mitigation measures, noted differences with EA , verify adequacy with other interested parties with shared management responsibilities. Page 11 3 novembre 2017

12 Issue 4.2.4: Recommendations Provide precise measurements and associated spatial data of the Project footprint following construction to validate impact predictions and allow the continued assessment of the Boreal Caribou habitat within NT1. Review the mitigation measures suggested for Boreal Caribou for the Canadian Zinc Corporation Prairie Creek All-Season Road. Page 12 3 novembre 2017

13 Thank-you Any Questions or Comments? Page 13 3 novembre 2017